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GAME NOTES: The Butler Bulldogs will begin a two-game road trip with a visit to the Beeghly Center to take on the Youngstown State Penguins in a crucial Horizon League matchup for both sides.

The Bulldogs have dominated the series with YSU, winning 20 of the previous 23 matchups and 11 of the last 12 overall. However, the teams split their two encounters last season with each of them winning on their home floor, which bodes well for the Penguins, who fell 71-55 in Indianapolis to Butler on Jan. 15th last month.

Although Butler's 13-12 record is quite disappointing after its NCAA Championship Game run, it is important to remember that Brad Stevens's squad was only 15-9 at this point last year. The Bulldogs lost 65-61 to the Detroit Titans their last time out which dropped them to fifth place in the Horizon League record with a 7-6 mark in conference action. Butler let one get away against the Titans, as it missed five shots in the final minute before losing by four points. The Bulldogs shot 35.3 percent from the floor after shooting a much more efficient 46.7 percent two nights earlier against Wright State.

Andrew Smith is the only Bulldog with a scoring average in double figures as he is contributing 10.6 ppg. Smith is also grabbing a team-best 5.5 rpg. Khyle Marshall is second on the squad with 9.1 ppg on 55.2 percent shooting from the floor. Senior guard Ronald Nored is the floor general for Butler. Nored did an excellent job distributing against Detroit as he handed out nine assists. He will need to fix his shot for tonight's game after going 0-of-7 from the floor against the Titans.

Youngstown State is 13-10 overall and 2.5 games back in the league standings with an 8-5 mark in conference play after its 80-63 victory over Loyola- Chicago on Sunday. Head coach Jerry Slocum's squad was on fire against Loyola, as it knocked down 63.3 percent of its field goals to knock off the Ramblers. The Penguins will be no easy matchup, as they are 7-2 on their home floor this season.

Kendrick Perry is the reigning Horizon League Player of the Week after averaging 25.7 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.7 steals per game in the Penguins' three outings last week. Perry is the fifth YSU player to win the award this year, which is a testament to its unbelievable depth. DuShawn Brooks, Damian Eargle, Ashen Ward, and Blake Allen all received the same honor. All of the award winners but Brooks average 10 points or more per game, and Brooks is just under with an average of 9.6 ppg. Eargle is also contributing a team-best 7.2 rpg.

Smith had his way with the Penguins in the first meeting this season. His size and strength was too much for YSU to match. The Penguins will need to continue their lights out shooting to take down the Bulldogs in this one.